Territory



(No Model.)

W. A LADD.

WHIFPLETRBE HOOK.

No. 391,054. V Patented Oct. 16, 1888.

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ilnrrs STATES \VILLIAM ALEXANDER LADD, OF COLFAX, WASHINGTON TERRITORY.

WHlFFLETREE-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.391,054, dated OctoberlG, 1888 Application filed May 24, 1888.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that LWILLIAM ALEXANDER LADD, a citizen of the'United States, residing at Colfax, in the county of \Vhitman, Territory of \Vashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in XVhi'ffletree- Hooks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a self-locking whiffletree-hook,which will be held by gravity in position to prevent its being unlocked or dis engaged from the loop upon the end of the tug, and which requires to be turned by hand into the only position which will admit of the removal of the tug from its attachmentto the end of the whiffletrce.

The object of my invention is to providea simple, secure, and effective device, which will be durable and is inexpensive, which may be easily operated by hand, but cannot be operated to disengage the tug from the end of the whiffletree by any action or exertion of the animal.

The improvement consists in certain constructions and combinations of parts for effecting the above-named objects, as will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective representation of my improved device when the tug is attached to the end of the whiffletree in working position; Fig. 2, a sectional View of the same through the end ofthe whiflietree when the hook and tug-loop are in position for the removal of the latter; and Fig. 3, an elevation of the staple in detail, which secures the hook to the end of the whiffletree.

One end only of the whiffletree A is shown in the drawings, to the end of which is fitteda clip, B, having a longitudinal gutter or depression, 1), formed therein, preferably upon the rear side of the said clip and whiifletree.

A hook, C, of iron or steel, is formed with a ring, 0, which encircles and snugly fits the Serial No. 274.968. (No model.)

clip B upon the end of the whiffietree, so that it may be turned freely thereon, the point C" of said hook being held while thus moved in close proximity to the rounded surface of the clip. The hook O is held upon the clip, and the clip is also held upon the end of the whiffletree in a simple and secure manner to ad such position that the loop d of the staplewill pass around the ring 0 upon one side of the whiifletree, and the projecting end of the long prong d of said staple will be upon the outside of said ring and upon the opposite side of the whiffletree, thus holding the hook securely in place while allowing it to be revolved almost completely around the whiffletree, the only obstruction to its complete revolution being the loop (1 of the staple, which is located in such relative position to the gutter 1) upon the top or back of the clip that the hook will be arrested in its rotation when it shall have been turned in position to bring the point 0 of the hook directly over the said gutter.

By the abovedescribed means the tug E and tug'loop F may be secured to the whiitletree by first turning the hook 0 until the point C is opposite the gutter b, and then passing the end of the loop F through the gutter and under the whiffletreehook, after which the weight of the tug and hook will bring the hook back to its working position with the point of the hook in such close relation to the clip that the loop cannot be removed or passed between them.

The hook may be readily opcrated by hand, but cannot be disengaged from the tug-1o0p by any action or exertion of the animal.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combinatiomwith a whiftletree having adepression in its surfacepfalug to main- Staple to hold the ringin place and admit ofits IO tain the ring in position, and a hook having a revolution thereon, substantially as described. ring to encircle the end of the whiffletree and In testimony whereof I affix my signature in held in place and adapted to be revolved presence of two Witnesses. thereon, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a whiffletree hav- WILLIAM ALEXANDER LADD' ing a depression therein, of a lug to maintain Witnesses: the ring in position, and a hook having a ring FRED CHAPMAN, to encircle the end of the whiffietree, and a W. H. SMITH. 

